State Department Releases June Cutoff Numbers for DV-2026 Amid Processing Pause – NEPYORK

The U.S. Department of State has released the June cutoff numbers for the DV-2026 Diversity Visa program, making visas available to qualified applicants across all eligible regions. While regional limits have been established—with specific cutoffs for high-volume countries like Egypt, Algeria, and Nepal—a continued suspension on visa issuance and adjustment-of-status processing remains a significant hurdle for lottery winners.

For June, Diversity Visa numbers are available to qualified DV-2026 applicants from all regions and eligible countries, with specific cutoff numbers for certain nations.

In Africa, the cutoff is 55,000, except for Algeria (37,000) and Egypt (30,000). In Asia, the cutoff is 35,000, though Nepal’s is lower at 11,000. Europe’s cutoff is 20,000. North America (limited to the Bahamas) is set at 50, Oceania at 1,500, and South America and the Caribbean at 3,000.

When a cutoff number is listed, visas are available only to applicants whose regional lottery rank numbers fall below that limit.

However, a visa suspension remains in effect. Since Dec. 19, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has suspended adjustment-of-status processing for DV lottery winners within the United States, and the State Department has paused visa issuance through embassies and consulates abroad.

Applicants may still submit visa applications and attend scheduled interviews. According to the State Department, appointment scheduling continues, but no diversity visas have been issued thus far. Existing appointments will not be moved or canceled, and previously issued visas have not been revoked.

DV-2026 winners began receiving visas in October 2025. During the first month, Nepali winners with case numbers up to 6,000 were eligible.

A total of 3,933 Nepali applicants were selected for further processing in DV-2026. The State Department noted that approximately 129,516 potential applicants were selected through the lottery and may be eligible to apply for immigrant visas. The department selects more winners than available visas because many applicants either do not complete the process or are found ineligible.

Those selected for DV-2026 must receive their visas by September 30, 2026. The pool of winners was drawn from a 37-day entry period—spanning October 2 to November 7, 2024—during which the government received over 20.8 million eligible entries.

The Diversity Visa program is administered annually by the State Department under congressional authority. Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act provides an opportunity for individuals from countries with historically low rates of migration to the United States to apply.

Applicants must meet strict eligibility requirements. Visas are distributed across six geographic regions, and no single country may receive more than 7% of the total annual allocation.

While the DV lottery normally opens during the first week of October, the DV-2027 opening has been delayed. The State Department has not yet announced a registration date, though a new passport requirement took effect on April 10.

The State Department indicated that the DV lottery announcement is forthcoming. A final rule establishing a $1 registration fee for the program was published in the Federal Register in September. This fee must be paid electronically at the time of entry, and the department estimates it will generate roughly $25 million in revenue.